A great video by SpeedbirdHD of the cockpit and take off of L/N 55; a United Boeing 787. It was at LAX for some quick work before being ferried back to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
China Airlines Boeing 777-300ER. Image from Boeing.
Last week Boeing managed to book 36 777 orders. While 30 of them are unidentified customers, China Airlines has announced its intention to order six new 777-300ERs worth $2 Billion at list prices along with four options. It is believed that these six aircraft are meant to replace its Airbus A340-300 fleet.
“The introduction of the 777-300ER into our fleet is another important step toward growing our global operations and enhancing our product offering,” said Huang-Hsiang Sun, president of China Airlines. “The 777-300ER sets the standard for twin-aisle airplanes with improved reliability and airplane performance. Our new 777-300ER airplanes will feature new interiors that will enhance the flying experience for our passengers.”
Taiwan’s flag carrier is in the midst of renewing its long-haul fleet and plans to operate the new 777-300ERs on new trans-Pacific flights between North America and Asia. The new airplanes will help the airline enhance its status as the largest airline in Taiwan and a leading global carrier.
“China Airlines has been a valued Boeing customer for more than 50 years and we are honored the airline has chosen the 777-300ER to expand its long-haul fleet,” said Ray Conner, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The introduction of the new 777-300ERs will provide China Airlines with new state-of-the-art cabin interiors, while adding improved airplane performance and economics to its long haul fleet.”
The Boeing 777 is the world’s most successful twin-engine, long-haul airplane and it continues to be preferred by airlines around the world, setting a record of 200 airplane orders in 2011. It is 19 percent lighter than its closest competitor, produces 22 percent less carbon dioxide per seat and costs 20 percent less to operate per seat. China Airlines will configure its 777-300ERs to accommodate more than 350 passengers in a three-class configuration and has a maximum range of 7,825 nautical miles (14,490 km).
In addition to the Boeing order for six 777-300ERs, China Airlines also will lease four 777-300ERs from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). China Airlines currently operates 23 Boeing passenger airplanes consisting of 747-400s and 737-800s, and 21 Boeing cargo aircraft consisting of 747-400Fs.
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This story written by…Brandon Farris, Correspondent. Brandon is an avid aviation geek based in Seattle. He got started in Photography and Reporting back in 2010. He loves to travel where ever he has to to cover the story and try to get the best darn shot possible.@BrandonsBlog | RightStuffPhotography | Flickr |
Business Class Lounge Entrance in the Qatar Airways Premium Terminal – Photo: Mal Muir / AirlineReporter.com
You’re flying business class to a faraway land. You’re scheduled for a five hour connection between your flights and this fills you with dread. It is not quite long enough to leave the airport to explore and all you can think of is being trapped. If you have a Business or First class ticket, flying Qatar Airways out of Doha, you have nothing to worry about.
Qatar Airways has something that no one else has at the Doha International Airport (DOH): their Premium Terminal. When you fly to/from/through Doha in either First or Business Class you have access to not just a lounge, but a whole VIP terminal.
There are other airlines that have private terminals for their First Class guests (Lufthansa in Frankfurt for example) but Qatar is special; they offer this amenity to Business Class guests as well.
No Need to Carry your own bag, porters do it for you. Photo: Mal Muir / AirlineReporter.com
If you are departing from Doha, you do not need to go to the main terminal first. As you enter the airport facility, you head off to the right and start your travel directly at the Premium Terminal.
From the very moment you arrive, the service begins. You would normally need to drag your bags to check in and then worry about where to go, navigating your way through the large facilities, finding the right counters. Not so here.
A porter will open the door for you, help you with your bags, even guide you up to a counter where you can sit down at a desk and the check in staff will get your boarding pass for you, without a hassle in the world.
Private Check In Desks in the Qatar Airways Premium Terminal – Photo: Mal Muir / Airlinereporter.com
The staff will guide you towards the private immigration and security channels. You still have to go through the same process as everyone else in the airport, but it’s a little less crowded. I ended up going through during the morning rush hours and had to wait a few minutes’¦ the shock and horror! Even though the service before security is nice, the real treat starts after security.
On the main level is the Duty Free shop and the gates for the flights. The lounge is located up on the second floor where additional staff is there to greet you. Once complete, those with Business Class seats head left and those with First Class take a right — but not so fast.
The second floor is host to the ’œlounge area’ though it is not just a lounge — There are a number of facilities. You have a cloak room, a games room and nursery for the kids, a smoking lounge (several of them dotted throughout the terminal) and even a clinic in case you’re not feeling well. ATMs, phones and a lovely calming water feature are here as well.
Tired? Why not take a quick nap in the Qatar Airways Premium Terminal? – Photo: Mal Muir / AirlineReporter.com
Once you enter the lounge, the real relaxation can begin. Located around the lounge are all different areas of comfort depending on what you wish to do with your time.
If getting down to business is your thing, there are private little cubicles which are more stylish than your usual office. If you feel like a little snack and a relaxing seat while maybe enjoying an espresso… do not worry… the lounge has it covered.
If eating on a lounge chair is not your thing, there are also sit down tables. Just be weary that a big snack can make you feel tired. There are comfy reclined seats, blanket and pillows to get you rested before your long flight.
Hungry? One of many food bars in the Qatar Airways Premium Terminal – Photo: Mal Muir / AirlineReporter.com
The food isn’t your typical lounge fare of cheese cubes and snack mix. At breakfast you can have a hot breakfast of poached eggs on toast or even waffles with berries and whipped cream. If you want something a bit lighter there are cereal and pastry choices as well.
Of course, if you feel like a cocktail and maybe a decadent little dessert before your flight, it is there for you as well. Whatever your mood or taste, I am sure you will be pleased.
One of the two Dining Areas in the Qatar Airways Premium Terminal – Photo: Qatar Airways
You probably don’t want to board your plane smelling ripe, so using one of the showers might be a great idea.
If you have a First Class ticket, you also get access to a full spa. What could be more relaxing than taking a soothing soak in a spa bath/Jacuzzi right before your flight?
Soon enough your time in the lounge will come to an end and you will need to board your flight. No need to keep checking your flight status, when it is time to board, a staff member will come around quietly announcing your departure.
Back at the bottom of the escalators is the ’œGate Area.’ There are no rows of chairs here, no crowded area filled with pushing and fighting passengers. Instead there are only a row of counters and screens where employees will check your boarding pass and direct you to the buses waiting to take you to your plane.
This isn’t your typical bus either. When you are ready, a porter helps you onboard the and will help you with your bags (because surely you bought a lot at the duty free store right?).
Once all the seats are filled the door is shut, and your airport drive begins as you are bused directly to the boarding stairs for your aircraft. While economy board at the rear, me and the other business class passengers strolled up the forward steps.
It was now time to transition from an amazing ground-based experience to an airborne one on my Boeing 777-200LR flight back to the states (more on that soon).
Disclaimer: Qatar Airways paid for the trip to Qatar, all opinions are my own.
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This story written by…Malcolm Muir, Lead Correspondent. Mal is an Australian Avgeek now living and working in Seattle. With a passion for aircraft photography, traveling and the fun that combining the two can bring. Insights into the aviation world with a bit of a perspective thanks to working in the travel industry. |
Boeing 787s on the flight line at Paine Field. Photo by Malcolm Muir.
I am an AvGeek that happens to write for AirlineReporter.com. Now, being a correspondent, I have access to connect with airline and Boeing PR people to get confirmations on things like deliveries, but recently, I tried some old fashion AvGeek-ness to try to find out how many 787s did Boeing really delivered recently.
On Thursday the 20th December I noticed a tweet pop up from @boeingairplanes that sparked my interest:
I had seen the flight line at Everett a bit over the last few weekends and there was a number of 787s all lined up ready to go and I knew that they had been doing plenty of test flights lately to push those 787s out before the end of year break. I decided to dig a bit deeper.
Consulting several sources including Flightaware for both Paine Field & Charleston AFB, where the two 787 factories are located, it was evident that this was entirely possible.
At that first stage only be four deliveries: three from Everett and one from Charleston. Where were those missing two? I was able to track the following deliveries:
- Air India from Charleston to Frankfurt (and then onwards to India)
- LOT from Everett to Warsaw
- Qatar Airways from Everett to Victorville (no doubt for fit out of their Thales IFE system)
- United from Everett to Los Angeles
I was starting to think that the other missing two must have been just financial deliveries. Then, on Friday the 21st another Tweet appeared:
Hmm, I felt it was time to get some official confirmation from Boeing. Scott Lefeber from the Boeing 787 Communications team confirmed via email that a total of 47 787’s had been delivered to date, and that a 787 delivery record had most definitely been broken; The record for the most amount of 787 aircraft ever delivered in one day.
At the time of publishing (I will update the story when I find out), Lefeber is unable to get confirm exactly how many were delivered. In question is a second787 for Qatar that had popped up on Flightaware while we were emailing.
By days end it was evident that a total of seven 787s were being delivered in the span of 36 hours. With the four deliveries listed above there was also:
- A second Qatar Airways from Everett to Victorville
- Japan Airlines from Everett to Tokyo Narita
- All Nippon Airways from Everett to Tokyo Haneda
It was great to see a fantastic accomplishment by the Boeing team with managing to get so many aircraft delivered in such a short time frame. Seven aircraft to six of the eight current operators is a good record. With all the bad press that has come about in the 787 program as of late, it is good to see something positive for once. Just in time for the new year.
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This story written by…Malcolm Muir, Lead Correspondent. Mal is an Australian Avgeek now living and working in Seattle. With a passion for aircraft photography, traveling and the fun that combining the two can bring. Insights into the aviation world with a bit of a perspective thanks to working in the travel industry.@BigMalX | BigMal’s World | Photos |
Ryanair Boeing 737 seen in Seattle before delivery. Photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren.
If you cover the airline world, you probably know the name, Stephen McNamara. He is the crazy (or pure genius) PR person behind Ryanair. I was shocked to recently read that he will be leaving Ryanair and heading over to Rugby Football Union as their Director of Communications.
You see, I have a special place in my heart for Mr. McNamara. He is well known as being elusive to many in the aviation journalism biz and I was extremely privileged to have him email me about some “mis-information” a while back. Him leaving has stirred up the memories and I wanted to reminisce.
It all started with me writing a story way back on March 10th 2010 about Ryanair stranding some passengers. The story showed up on my blog, but also on my Seattle PI syndication. This is where Mr. McNamara found my story and strongly disagreed with what he read. He wrote directly to the Seattle PI, but since they have no editorial control over my content, the email was forwarded to me. Mr. McNamara did not like that the Seattle PI was not able to change my story.
“Your answer is less than satisfactory and it is a damming indictment of the Seattlepi.com that you would allow clearly incorrect and biased information appear and remain on your site ’“ brushing this off as an issue for the publisher is simply rubbish ’“ it is on your site, you are the publisher,” McNamara stated in his response to the PI (see his full reply here). Even at this early stage in my blogging career, I knew I was on to some gold-standard material.
BONUS: The five stages passengers go through when flying ultra low-cost carriers — like Ryanair
Stephen McNamara, currently head of PR for Ryanair.
I decided to write him back. I truly don’t want to be writing wrong information and was happy to update my story. Although he stated that he doesn’t “have the time (or resources) to correct the errors most bloggers come up with,” McNamara gave me a very long winded reply email correcting my mistakes. His reply was filled with even better material and I questioned if I should share his entire email or just give a summary. Knowing Ryanair loves the negative attention and the fact that the message was just too good not to share, I made the decision to copy and paste.
If the same thing would happen today, I probably wouldn’t make the same move, but there are benefits to being a lesser known blogger.
Don’t get me wrong here… I have tremendous respect for Ryanair and Mr. McNamara. The crazy ideas they have come up with, just to get free publicity, have been pure genius. The fact that so many journalists around the world pick up the stories as fact has been hilarious.
Passengers and media love to hate this airline, but their business model of extreme ala-cart pricing and laughable headlines getting them free publicity has made them one of the most successful airlines.
It is amusing to me that some headings (example one and two) stated that working as head of Ryanair PR is the worst PR job in the world (well, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary actually said it first). I think I have to disagree a bit. Where else can you come up with stories, like offering standing seats only, banning kids from flights, requiring passengers to pay for toilets or state you are looking at only having one pilot instead of two in each plane and have media around the world eat up your story and give your company publicity? That sounds like a pretty rad PR job to me.
So, Mr. McNamara, I salute you and the work you have done at Ryanair. I hope your replacement is as equally entertaining and able to provide high-end content for little ‘ol bloggers like me. The fact that I have traveled the world to cover different airline and travel stories, but our interaction over two and a half years ago is still one of my favorite all-time stories says something. I wish you the best of luck.
NOTE: I will be emailing Mr. McNamara with a link to this story hoping to get some sort of comment. If so, I will update the story. I wouldn’t hold your breath, but it is the giving season right?
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This story written by… David Parker Brown, Editor & Founder.
David started AirlineReporter.com in the summer of 2008, but has had a passion for aviation since he was a kid. Born and raised in the Seattle area (where he is currently based) has surely had an influence and he couldn’t imagine living anywhere else in the world. |